Don’t surrender to addiction

Letter to the Editor:

Never give up! About two months ago I came to the conclusion and finally accepted that I needed help. I had a demon haunting me for the past 28 years and that demon’s name is alcohol.

I went into rehab to find the real Bryan. I knew he was there somewhere. I asked my family and friends to grab me a soda and a sponsor when I got out. My mom raised me right, I did wrong on my own. But I knew I would be stronger because this time I was doing it for me, and the one thing that I lost because of my demon, was the one person that means the world to me. I can be anyone’s friend, but I was down. Arrangements got messed up, but I wanted to be the person that I used to be.

I went to rehab. No one has the right to judge anyone, because no one knows what anyone has been through. I learned to never be defined by my past. It was a lesson, not a life sentence. Now it feels great to be alive again!

For those who think it can’t be done without going to the demon, think again. Remember some key words: God + AA + Sponsor = sobriety.

For me, just being here, being sober, is God’s way of saying I’m needed here for something. I should have done this long ago, because this feeling of happiness has no words to describe it. I’m a new man, inside and out and I’m loving it wholeheartedly.

So, never, ever give up! If I can do this, so can you!

Bryan Salkeld

Ephrata